Canada is in negotiations with the United States for possible participation in the under-designed anti-missile system “Golden Dome“, announced by Donald Trump, aimed at countering “next-generation aerial threats.”

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office said talks with the US are ongoing and include both existing and new security initiatives, including the Golden Dome. The news comes amid intense consultations to review trade and defence relations between the two countries.

Trump announced the launch of the program on Tuesday, revealing that the initial investment will amount to $25 billion, while the total cost is expected to reach $175 billion by the end of his term. “Canada has expressed interest in participating. They want protection too, as always, we’re helping Canada,” Trump said.

The new defense system, inspired in part by Israel‘s Iron Dome, will include sensors and in-orbit interceptors aimed at intercepting missiles even from space launches or from the other side of the planet. But implementing such an ambitious plan over such a large geographic area has raised skepticism among military analysts.

The Economist’s defence issues editor, Sasank Joshi, noted that the project would require “thousands of satellites to detect and track threats, as well as interceptors in orbit”. Despite the determination of the US Pentagon, he assessed that it is unrealistic to complete the project within Trump’s presidential term, and the exorbitant costs could absorb a large portion of the US defence budget.